This forum is provided for the benefit of beekeepers internationally, and particularly welcomes input from beekeepers in Scotland. Like all internet discussion fora it can contain humour and banter that may not be appreciated by all. The only rule is not to be abusive. The ethos of the forum is that posters should self-moderate as far as possible rather than be subjected to editorial interference. Naturally, the views represented here do not represent those of the SBA.

Cracking talk, that one. Look out for stones falling out of the air all round the Ochil hills next year.

All sorts of snippets - drones heading out to the lowest point on the horizon and so missing some nearby DCAs; no workers accompanying drones (and queens presumably) at DCAs. They don't catch 'em in their traps. One of the best husband-wife squabbles is described in there (23 min). 240 colonies contribute drones to a single DCA in their environment.

I knew a surprising number of the people there. The first questioner was the very same Chris Slade mentioned yesterday.

Brilliant to get to see these talks. Also to be able to skip over the basic stuff at the beginning, and go back and hear some bits for a second time.

I'm sitting here reading that book that wasn't quite published when she gave the lecture.

Something like that. The one I was sent was slighty bashed in a way that didn't happen while inside the padded envelope, but as I really need to read the book I decided not to send it back. Presumably that copy protected the nicer ones underneath for you lot.

Thanks Drone Ranger, I had a day off work on Monday and whilst ironing (yes, the rock and roll lifestyle) indulged in this one, the latest one on honey marketing and also Norman Carreck talking about the thinking beekeeper.

Very interesting how the mites take up the scent of the bees to hide themselves, even whilst dead!

Clearly it's good enough to make them a problem, but I wonder how effective it really is, and whether there are ways to either help the bees shift the odds?